Abstract
Introduction
Understanding nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment could inform education and practice improvements.
Aim/Question
To explore mental health nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment.
Method
An integrative systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42023398287). Multiple databases (PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO) were searched for primary studies of mental health nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment. Qualitative studies were subject to inductive coding and thematic analysis; quantitative data were integrated with emerging themes.
Results
Eighteen papers were included. Qualitative studies commonly lacked rigorous analyses. Four themes emerged: underlying purpose and legitimacy of risk assessment (philosophical orientation); use of structured approaches (technical orientation); value of intuition (intuitive orientation); and service user involvement (relationships orientation). There were contradictory study findings in each thematic category indicating different attitudes among mental health nurses.
Discussion
Mental health nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment vary in four key domains. Survey studies suggest they are more approving of structured approaches to risk assessment than many qualitative studies suggest. There is a need to develop a valid measure of attitudes to risk assessment.
Implications for practice
This review could help health organizations to develop strategies to improve their risk assessment policies and practice. There is a need to develop structured training and education programs.
Understanding nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment could inform education and practice improvements.
Aim/Question
To explore mental health nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment.
Method
An integrative systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42023398287). Multiple databases (PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO) were searched for primary studies of mental health nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment. Qualitative studies were subject to inductive coding and thematic analysis; quantitative data were integrated with emerging themes.
Results
Eighteen papers were included. Qualitative studies commonly lacked rigorous analyses. Four themes emerged: underlying purpose and legitimacy of risk assessment (philosophical orientation); use of structured approaches (technical orientation); value of intuition (intuitive orientation); and service user involvement (relationships orientation). There were contradictory study findings in each thematic category indicating different attitudes among mental health nurses.
Discussion
Mental health nurses’ attitudes towards risk assessment vary in four key domains. Survey studies suggest they are more approving of structured approaches to risk assessment than many qualitative studies suggest. There is a need to develop a valid measure of attitudes to risk assessment.
Implications for practice
This review could help health organizations to develop strategies to improve their risk assessment policies and practice. There is a need to develop structured training and education programs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1137-1151 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 23 Jun 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2023 |
Keywords
- risk assessment
- nursing role
- violence
- suicide
- systematic literature reviews
